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However, the economic situation of our country is more worrisome right now than the North Korean missiles launched into the East Sea.

Last month's trade balance was also in the red.

It is the first time in 25 years since the 1997 Asian financial crisis that it recorded a deficit for six consecutive months.



Reporter Hoon-Kyung Jang on the sidewalk.



<Reporter> The



trade deficit was again due to energy source imports.



As the government increased imports of oil, gas and coal ahead of winter, imports increased by 8.05 billion dollars more than a year ago.



However, as exports hit an all-time high in September, the trade deficit fell to $3.77 billion from August.



However, export growth has slowed.



Because of the global economic slowdown.



An executive in charge of semiconductors at Samsung Electronics also said, “Recently, we have reduced our sales forecast for the second half of the year by 30% compared to last April by 20 trillion won.” Compared to the previous year, it has decreased by more than 20% and inventories are up by more than 67%.



[Eo Woon-seon/Statistics Office Economic Trends Statistics Review Officer (Yesterday): As exports and (semiconductor, etc.) mining and industrial production were somewhat sluggish, the economic recovery or improvement trend stagnated following last month (July)…

.]



Exports to China, its largest trading partner, continue to decline, but it turned to a surplus for the first time in five months as imports declined even more.



The trade deficit until September of this year has already exceeded the $28.8 billion mark in 1996, which was just before the financial crisis.



[Young-Moo Cho / Research Fellow, LG Business Research Institute: (This year) The global economy is highly likely to fall into recession in developed countries and even emerging countries next year.

The export slowdown is likely to go on for quite some time (I think)]



As the trade deficit continued and concerns about the foreign exchange crisis emerged, Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyung-ho said, "We have 25% of our gross domestic product as foreign exchange reserves." said.



Deputy Prime Minister Choo also spoke by phone with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, saying, "We reaffirmed that the two countries will work closely to implement liquidity supplies if necessary."



(Video coverage: Kim Min-cheol, video editing: Jeon Min-gyu)